Dhaka’s air remains unhealthy

The air quality in Dhaka turned ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ on Friday morning, with the city recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 117 at 9:40am.

Dhaka ranked 15th among cities worldwide with the worst air quality at the time.

According to the AQI scale, air in the capital was classified as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, meaning children, older people and those with heart or lung diseases may face health risks, while the general population is less likely to be affected.

Malaysia’s Kuching and India’s Delhi topped the global pollution list, both recording an AQI score of 174. Qatar’s Doha ranked third, with an AQI score of 158.

Earlier on Thursday morning, Dhaka ranked 18th among the world’s cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI score of 97 at 10:00am.

An AQI reading of 101 to 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while 151 to 200 is classified as ‘unhealthy’. A reading between 201 and 300 is considered ‘very unhealthy’, and anything above 301 is categorized as ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks.

The AQI provides a daily indication of air quality by measuring the level of pollution and its potential impact on human health.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants – particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone.

Dhaka has long faced serious air pollution problems, with air quality generally deteriorating during the winter months and improving during the monsoon season.

The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution contributes to around 7 million deaths worldwide every year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.